Vehicle body construction



July 22, 1930. M. w. MOESTA 1,770,941

VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION Original Filed April 4, 1927 IIII4 1N VENTOR MAM/MN 144 440mm.

fi7 ATTORNEY Patented July 22,1932 1 I anvm w. MonsrA, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, Assrenon To THE MURRAY oonronamen or ArrnnrcA, a conrona'rron or DELAWARE vnnrctn BODY cons'rnuc'rroiv Original application filed April 4, 1927, Serial No. 189,667. Divided and this applieation filed December 27,1927. Serial No. 242,635.

This invention relates to vehicle bodies, and is a division of my application for Letters Patent of tnellnited States for improvements in vehicle bodies filed April 4, 1921', Serial No. 180,667. 7

Theprincipal object of the present invention is to provide anew and novel pillar construction for-use in vehiclebodies which will be simple in construction, or relatively great strengthand light weighhand economical to produce. 1

Another object is to provide pillar f'or vehicle bodies and the like formed from a pair of sheet metal stampings' whereby to form a double box girder construction.

prising a Z-shaped member having one end thereof re'versely bent to form a channel, the other of the members cooperating therewith to close the channel, thereby forming one box section and extending therefrom in spaced relationship with respect to the first member to a point adjacent the opposite end thereof where the parts area-gain secured together to i'orm asecond box section, one of the outersides of the channel forming the bottom of a window guide channel.

The above being among the objects of the present invention, the same consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view. v

In the accompanying drawing which illus:

trates a suitable embodiment of the present.

invention, and in which likenuinerals reiter to like parts throughout the views,-

Fig. 1 is a side elevationoi an automobile body. v

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken horizontally through onset the body pillars and cooperating door pillar. v In the drawings I show an automobile body comprising a main body portion 5, cowl portion 6 and top 7. The usual door 8 is provided for entrance and exit to andfrom the body. As indicated in Fig. 1, the body is provided with the usual front pillar 9 and the door is provided with the usual glass 10 received in the frame formed on the upper portion thereof and comprising the usual door side pillars '11 and top frame member 12.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the body pillar 9 is constructed of channel shaped metal and having the rear channel side 13 llllGlGOfOf substantially greaterwidth than the front channel side 14. The channel between the sides 13' and 1 1- is covered by an L-saaped panel 15 which also secures tlie'wind strip 16 along the edge of the channel side13. The panel 15 is intermediately supported by clips 1'? which are welded to the bottom channel stamping having a leg portion 22 and end portions 23 and 24 respectively. The outer edge 25 of the end portion 24; is bent back into spaced and substantially parallel relationship wlth respect to the leg portion 22 whereby to form a channel. ill second sheet metal stamping-preferably of less thickness than the first mentioned stamping and comprising a curved portion 26, a wall portion 27, marginal flange 28 and edge portion 29 is secured tothe first stamping by'securing the marginal flange 28 to the leg 22 with the same received withinthe channel formed between the portions 22, 24.- and 25 and with the wall portion 27 in contact with and preferably welded or otherwise suitably secured to the freeedgeof the portion 25. The end portion 29 is extended over and bent back on the end 23 so as to clamp the same there between. It will be obvious that by this construction the open end of the channel formed by the leg 22 and portions 24; and 25 is closed by the wall portion 27, and results in a box section, and that .the portion 22, wall 27 and. curved portion 26 combine to form a second 'bOX section lying in parallel and adj a-centrelationship with respect to the first box section, and that these two. lJOXSQClZlOllS are formed solely by the employment of the two r Tanner rric,

sheet metal parts.- The resulting structural strength is obvious and it will be readily understood that a pillar formed in accordance therewith may be made of lighter material or of smaller dimensions than in the conventional constructions and still retain the same structural strength.' I p To the outer face of the portion is secured aT-shaped molding member comprising the head portion and leg portion 31. The leg portion 31 is secured against the outer face of the portion 25 with one-half of the head of the T extended rearwardly in spaced and parallel relationship with respect to the wall 27, thereby to form a channel in which the resilient channel 32 for the Window glass 33 is received.

The leg portion 31 of the T molding is st; cured to the reversely bent flange 25 of the door pillar by screws as shown. lhus the fastening means for the T molding are concealed by the glass channe 32 which adds materially to the appearance and finish of the work.

Although I have described the present construction in combination with a door pillar, it will be apparent that in its broad aspect it may equally well be adapted forv use as a body pillar by slight modifications therein, such as are within the scope of the ordinary person skilled in the art, and formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the present invention without departing from the spirit or substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A vehicle door pillar comprising a relatively thin metal bar having a comparatively wide web portion, a lateral flange on its outer edge constituting a door stop and molding support and having a rearwardly and return bent portion on its inner edge forming with a portion of the web three sides of a box section, a metal strip having its outer edge bent about and secured to the lateral outside flange of said metal bar and having its inner portion bent to form one side of a glass run channel and to form the fourth side of said box sect-ion, a T-shaped metal molding strip hav ing its leg portion resting upon and secured to the return bent portion of said metal bar and forming the bottom of a glass run channel, and having one of its arm portions forming a side for said glass run channel.

2. A pillar for a vehicle door comprising a relatively thin metal bar having a lateral flange on its outer edge, and having a rearwardly and return bent flange on its inner edge, a metal strip having its outer edge bent about and secured to the outer flange of said bar and having its inner portion bent to form a side for a glass run channel abutting the inner edge of the return bent flange of said bar, a metal molding strip ofT-shape in cross section having its leg resting upon and secured to the return bent flange of sand bar and having one arm thereof forming a second side for a. glass run channel.

3. A pillar for a vehicle door comprising a sheet metal bar having a lateral flange on its outer edge forming a door stop and molding support and having a rearwardly and return bent flange on its inner edge forming a reinforcement and support for a glass run channel, a strip metal member having its outer edge bent about and secured to the outer flange of said metal bar and its inner portion bent to form a side for a glass run channel, a second member of T-shape in cross section having its leg portion resting upon and secured'to the return bent flange of said metal bar and its leg and one side portion positioned to complete said glass run channel.

4:. A pillar for a vehicle body comprising a pair of sheet metal members, the'flrst member being Z-sectioned and having one of its ends bent baclr to form an inwardly opening channel, the second member being of generally trough-shaped section and provided with a marginal flange, said marginal flange being secured to the web of said 2 with the adjacent portion thereof bent up and secured in contact with the free edge of said channel thereby closing the same and forming one box section, and the opposite edge of said second member being secured to the other flange of said first Z member thereby forming a second box section. V

' MARVIN lV. MOESTA. 

